Quote:
Originally Posted by adios
FYP
They can drill relief wells but that could take up to three months from what I've read.
Robots Work to Stop Leak of Oil in Gulf
The robots were trying to activate a device known as a blowout preventer, a 450-ton valve at the wellhead that is designed to shut off a well in the event of a sudden pressure release.
Officials had initially said that the operation, which began Sunday morning, would take 24 to 36 hours. But on Monday a Coast Guard spokesman said officials would keep trying as long as the efforts were feasible because “it’s the best option.” The other options — collecting the oil in a dome and routing it to the surface or drilling one or more relief wells — would take weeks or even several months to execute.
ummm.... a month of leakage at that rate, and you can say goodbye to not only all gulf marine life, but likely much of the western Caribbean...
this says nothing of the danger the drift poses to existing refinery infrastructure all along the gulf coast, which may have to be shut down.
like I said, this is horribad .... on more levels than the press is admitting.